Golf instruction apparatus



Oct. 13, 1953 D, SHEFFER 2,655,378

GOLF INSTRUCTION APPARATUS Filed May 27, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.

. JNVENTOR. A/VMEW SHE/ 1 53,

Ogt. 13, 1953 A. D. SHEFFER 2,655,378

GOLF INSTRUCTION APPARATUS Filed May 27, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR. ANDREW 0. SHEFFEB/ Patented Oct. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,655,378 A com INSTRUoTIoN APPARATUS Andrew D. Shefler, Brighton, Mich.

5 Application May 27, 1949, Serial No. 95,775

Claims. (01. 273-35) Q'Ihis invention relates to improvements in golf instruction apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus'for artificially controlling or guiding the swing of olf clubs while a golfer isperfecting a swing to obtain the most effective results.

It is among the objects of the invention to pro- 'vide a golf instruction apparatus of simple and extremely economical construction which can be quickly and easily varied or adjusted to golfers of different heights and fordifierent golf clubs in a set, as some clubs require a different swing from otherawhich will accurately control the movementof a golf club to produce a swing of the character generally considered the most effective for driving a golf ball, and which does not interfere, in any way, with the movements of the golfer while swinging a club, produces no undesirable confusion or reflexes, and quickly establishes a proper swinging habit so that the golfer will acquire the proper aptitude in swinging the clubs with a minimum amount of practice. A A

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationof the following description and the appended claims in conjunc- 'tion with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is an elevation of the golf instruction apparatus in operative position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of the apparatus showing the manner of attaching the apparatus to a conventional golf club; A

Figure 3 is a straightened out or development view of the part of the apparatus particularly illustrated in Figure 2; I

Figure .4 is a viewof another portion of the apparatus, such portion being shown in straightened outcondition; A

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 with the apparatus slightly modified for a different operating condition than that for which the arrangement shown in Figure 1 is particularly adapted;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view similar to Figure 5 showing the apparatus still further modified for a different operating condition; and

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic elevation similar to Figures 5 and 6, butshowing the apparatus in astill further modified condition,

.With continued reference to the drawings, the apparatus comprises, in general, avertical post l0 considerably taller than a man, a device ll mounted on the post near its-upper end and providing a line-attaching eye, and a flexible line structure l2 having remote from the post ll] two vice l I.

separate ends attachable to the shank of a conventional golf club l3 near the respectively opposite ends of the golf club shank.

The post In may be any suitable structure providing a substantially rigid support for the de- It can be an ordinary Wooden or metal post, a suitable tree or even the corner of a building, but a suitable wooden post of the proper length is preferred, as this enables the setting up of the apparatus at any desired location.

The device ll may comprise a staple plate l4 carrying a ring bolt l5 providing an eye for the attachment of the line structure l2 to the post.

The line structure l2 comprises an intermediate portion which may be varied and adjusted in form for different purposes, as will be later explained, but which, in all cases, has two separate ends attachable to the golf club near respectively opposite ends of the shank of the club, and includes split leather thongs it connected respectively to the two separate ends of the line struchire to connect such ends to the golf club shank. These thongs are particularly illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, and each comprises an elongated strap of suitable material such as leather, having holes I! respectively disposed near its open ends and having an elongated slit I8 in its intermediate portion. Each of the thongs is attached to the line structure I! by inserting the end portion of the line structure through the holes I! with the strap l6 doubled so that the two holes I! are in registry with each other, turning the end portion of the line structure backwardly to form a loop and securing this loop by a suitable clip [9.

e In applying the thongs IE to the golf club, each thong is looped to provide a clove hitch formation, the golf club shank is inserted through the eye of such clove hitch and the hitch then tightened on the shank of the club to firmly secure the thong to the shank of the club near the respective end of the latter.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figure 1, the line structure I2 comprises a length of flexible line 20 secured at one end to the ring [5 carried by the post l0, and provided at its opposite end with a ring or loop 2|, and a second length of line 22 passed through the ring 2! and having the thongs I 6 attached to its opposite ends. This second line 22 has knots 23 therein located at substantially equal distances from the mid-length location of .the second line, and the ring 2| receives the second line between the knots 23.

With the golf club l3 secured to the ends of the second line 22 by the thongs 16, the golf club may be carried through a ball-driving swing and will be guided in this swing by the line structure [2, the club being accurately guided at both ends, so that the swing produced will be in exact conformity with the desired results.

In the arrangement diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 5, the apparatus is exactly the same as that illustrated in Figure 1, except the knots 23 are omitted from the second line 22, thus giving the golfer more freedom of movement between the opposite ends of the golf club. This slightly modified form of apparatus may be used for an intermediate or final stage in the instruction course, or for instructions with a different type of golf club from that illustrated in Figure 1, for example, if the club J3 of Figure ,l is a driver, the club l3 of Figure 5 may be a brassie or one of the irons.

The apparatus illustrated in Figure 6 is exactly the same as that illustrated in Figure 1, except that an equalizing bar 26 has been connected at its mid-length location to the free end of the first line 26. The equalizing bar '26 is a short bar of light weight material, such as wood, and is provided, at its mid-length location, with a hole through which the line 20 extends, the line being secured to the bar by a knot 27 inits end, and with a hole near each end. The second line 22 is passed through the holes near the opposite ends of the equalizing bar so that it is .slidab'le relative to the bar and its portions adjacent the free end of line 20 are spread apart by the bar.

The modified apparatus of Figure 13 may be used for a still different .club from the ,clubs l3 and is of Fi ures 1 and or may be used to ac- 'commodate the apparatus to a olfer of a different height from the golfers to which the forms shown in Figures ,1 and 5 are particularly well adapted.

In the arrangement shown in Figure '7, the modified line structure I? comprises asingle line passed through the ring bolt l5 and so positioned that the ring bolt is near the mid-length location of the line. This single line is attached at its ends to the shank :of .a golf -club 13' which may be the same club, or a difierent club from hose used with the form of the invention shown in Figures .5 and 6, and the form shown in Figure 7 may also be used by a golfer of a different height from those to which the forms shown in Fi res .1, .5 and 6 are particularly Well adapted.

This improved instruction apparatus not on i guides the head of the golf club in its swinging movements, but also firmly uides the hands of the golfer, and thus more quickly and effectively establishes in the golfer the proper habits or re ctions in swin ing the club in h pproved manner.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms with ut departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. ent embodiments are, therefore, to .be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and .all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein. 7

What is claimed is:

1. Golf instruction apparatus for teaching a golfer proper club swing habits comprising a vertical post, means secured to said post at a height somewhat greater than the height of a man and providin a line-receivingeye, a l

The pres structure attached to said post by said linereceiving eye and having two separate ends remote from said post, a golf club having a shank and a head at one end and a grip at the other end of said shank, and means connecting said line to the shank of said golf club near respectively opposite ends of the club shank, said line structure comprising a first length of single line attached at one end to said line-fastening eye, a ring attached to the Opposite end of said first length of line, and a second length of line extending through said ring for attachment at its ends to a golf club.

2. Golf instruction apparatus for teaching a golfer proper club swing habit comprising a vertical post, means secured to said post at a height somewhat greater than the height of a man and providing a line-fastening eye, a line structure attached to said post by said line-fastening eye and having two separate ends remote from said post, a golf club having a shank and a head. at one end and agrip at the other end of said shank, means connecting said line ends to the shank of said golf club near respectively opposite ends of the latter, said line structure comprising a first length of single line attached at one end to said line-fastening eye, a ring attached to the opposite end of said first length of line, and a second length of line extending through said ring for attachment at its ends to a golf club, said second length of line having therein two spacedapart knots disposed adjacent to and at substantially equal distances from the mid-length location of such second length of line.

3. Golf instruction apparatus for teaching a golfer proper club swing habits comprising a vertical post, means secured to said post at a height somewhat greater than the height of a man and providing a line-fastening eye, ,a line structure attached to said post and having two separate ends remote from said Post, a golf club having a shank and a head at one end and a grip at the other end of said shank, and means connect ing said line ends to the shank of said golf club near respectively opposite ends of the latter, said line structure comprising .a first length of single line secured at one end to said line-fastening eye, an equalizing bar secured at its mid-length location to said first length of line at the opposite end of the latter, said equalizing bar having a hole adjacent each opposite end thereof and a second line passed through the holes in said equalizing bar and attached at its opposite ends to said shank, one near the. head and one near the grip end thereof.

4. Golf instruction apparatus for teaching a golfer proper club swing habitscomprising a vertical post, means secured to said post at a height somewhat greater than the height of a man and providing a line-fastening eye, a line structure attached to said post and having two separate ends remote from said post, a golf club including a shank and a head at one end and a grip at the other end of said shank, and means connecting said line ends to the shankof said golf club near respectively opposite ends of the latter, said line structure including a single line extending through said line-fasteningeye.

5. Golf instruction apparatus comprising an upright support, a line structure providing two separate ends at one end of said structure, means connecting the other end of said line structure to said support at a height above the ground somewhat greater than the height of a man, a

golf club including a shank and a head at one end and a grip at the other end of said shank, and means connecting said two line ends to said club shank one near the head and one near the grip of said club. 1

6. Golf instruction apparatus comprising an upright support, a line structure providing two separate ends at one end of said structure, means connecting the other end of said line structure to said support at a height above the ground somewhat greater than the height of a man, a golf club including a shank and a head at one end and a grip at the other end of said shank, and means connecting said two line ends to said club shank one near the head and one near the grip of said club, said line structure being ar- 15 ,455,707

ranged to provide limited freedom of relative movement between said line ends.

ANDREW D. SHEFFER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 762,959 Tothill June 21, 1904 1,824,027 Lundquist Sept. 22, 1931 1,936,687 Pottle Nov. 28, 1933 2,080,148 Naysmith May 11, 1937 2,080,653 Craft May 18, 1937 2,147,157 Goertz Feb. 14, 1939 2,448,904 Millner Sept.v 7, 1948 Shefler Dec. 7, 1948 

